Major improvements to Wellington Sports Centre are in doubt after the government pulled £25m of funding for swimming pools nationwide.

Taunton Deane Borough Council had been in line to receive a £350,000 grant from Sport England.

The estimated cost of upgrading the water treatment system, changing rooms and pool environment is £600,000.

Councillors said they were disappointed and are to hold a meeting to discuss possibly scaling down the project.

Way forward

"The amount of money we are not getting is £350,000, so it is a big blow," said councillor Catherine Herbert.

"We were hoping it wouldn't be so severe so that other plans could be made, but I think it cuts very deep. It's 'all stop' so the local authority will have to consider the way forward.

"We were getting very nervous since about April when we were expecting money to be confirmed. It went very quiet even before the election, so it was not unexpected, but it's still disappointing."

Kate McKnight from the Amateur Swimming Association said: "The ASA can offer free help and guidance on the technical side, to see whether or not by reducing the build, that funding can be pulled back so the project can still go ahead, but it won't necessarily be to the same specifications as before."